San Antonio singer Jennifer Espinoza will tour the country with a Queen tribute show. She honed her skills in Terry Lowry's Network for Young Artists.

San Antonio singer Jennifer Espinoza will tour the country with a Queen tribute show. She honed her skills in Terry Lowry's Network for Young Artists.

Photo: Courtesy Photo

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Terry Lowry keeps an eye on his young Mariachi singer during a show at El Mercado Square on Friday, Nov. 23, 2012. Lowry is the founder of Network for Young Artists which helps aspiring musicians get opportunities to perform and raise their self-esteem in the process. The non-profit organization has been in existence for 14 years and has helped thousands of young performers according to Lowry.

Sandy Rogriguez, 15, sings during a show at El Mercado Square on Friday, Nov. 23, 2012. Rodriguez is part of Network for Young Artists founded by retired educator Terry Lowry who started the organization 14 years ago. The organization helps aspiring musicians get opportunities to perform and raise their self-esteem in the process.

Sandy Rogriguez, 15, sings during a show at El Mercado Square on Friday, Nov. 23, 2012. Rodriguez is part of Network for Young Artists founded by retired educator Terry Lowry who started the organization 14

Terry Lowry (center) directs young Mariachi singer, Luis Manuel, during a show at El Mercado Square on Friday, Nov. 23, 2012. Lowry is the founder of Network for Young Artists which helps aspiring musicians get opportunities to perform and raise their self-esteem in the process. The non-profit organization has been in existence for 14 years and has helped thousands of young performers according to Lowry.

Terry Lowry (center) directs young Mariachi singer, Luis Manuel, during a show at El Mercado Square on Friday, Nov. 23, 2012. Lowry is the founder of Network for Young Artists which helps aspiring musicians get

Terry Lowry (second from left) informs an audience about his organization, Network for Young Artists, while flanked by a trio of singers: Jessica Espinoza (from left), Sandy Rodriguez and Jennifer Espinoza who all have succeeded in the progam during a show at El Mercado Square on Friday, Nov. 23, 2012. The organization helps young musicians to get opportunities to perform and to raise their self-esteem in the process. The non-profit organization has been in existence for 14 years and has helped thousands of young performers according to Lowry.

Terry Lowry (second from left) informs an audience about his organization, Network for Young Artists, while flanked by a trio of singers: Jessica Espinoza (from left), Sandy Rodriguez and Jennifer Espinoza who

Then again, most people aren't trying to become the next "American Idol" or a get a shot on NBC's "America's Got Talent," "The Voice" or "The X Factor."

But that's not exactly the whole picture, either, about the hundreds of kids who have been helped, motivated and inspired by Lowry's good works.

Anywhere really young people are performing music - sometimes at the oddest places, such as a grocery store parking lot, or at festivals big and small at Market Square - Lowry's kids will be there impressing audiences.

On the bigger pop culture stage, one recent success is Sebastien De La Cruz, the 10-year-old mariachi dubbed El Charro de Oro who melted hearts on "America's Got Talent" while withstanding the withering stare of judge Howard Stern.

De La Cruz went through Lowry's program, as did Jennifer Espinoza, who fronted the Queen Extravaganza, the official touring Queen tribute rock act. Others have appeared on "The X Factor." A couple of Network for Young Artists grads have a shot at success on the new season of "American Idol."

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Lowry, better known as Coach Lowry to his students, is an advocate for young musicians. And it seems that they're getting younger and younger all the time.

Most of the aspiring musicians in the program are teens, but the age range runs from 4 to 20. In truth, the network is more about confidence and self-esteem than a set-in-stone career path. Its founder is proud that the children stay out of trouble and eschew drugs and alcohol - a requirement for enrollment.

Lowry formed the nonprofit organization in 1999. But its roots go back to the days when he taught and coached at Memorial High School 10 years earlier.

"I realized that kids needed to be motivated to pass," said Lowry, 59.

Charity efforts such as "Comic Relief" and Willie Nelson's Farm Aid prompted him to consider using music as a motivational tool to get his freshman football players to make a passing grade. The "no-pass, no-play" rule took its toll on his teams.

It also was the height of the Tejano music era. The teacher noticed everyone in the school halls owned a Sony Walkman.

"San Antonio was the Nashville of Tejano music," he said. "I said, 'Why can't I get these artists from San Antonio to motivate our own people here?' "

He approached up-and-coming singer Selena, still a teenager, about his concept for a concert.

"Selena told me, 'Sure, I'll do it. I like school,' " Lowry recalled. "She did it with an open heart."

"Our passing rate went from 29 percent at the beginning of the year and ended with a 65 percent passing rate," he said.

Lowry was soon producing shows throughout the Edgewood School District. The program - called Professionals Assisting Student Success - lasted seven years.

It was a learning curve. Along the way, Lowry discovered many students were as talented as the bands.

"I thought, 'Why don't we let them sing and build up their self-esteem?'" he said. "They just want to belong to something that's positive."

Lowry quickly found out that there were barriers. Poor kids were often clueless about where to begin. They lacked confidence. They lacked musical instruments or the ability to buy them.

"It made me think," said Lowry, who grew up poor in St. Petersburg, Fla. "What is it the difference between a rich kid and a poor kid? The difference is opportunities, and, unfortunately, opportunities cost. You've got to buy instruments. You've got to pay for lessons."

He decided it was time to level the playing field.

It was at that moment in 1997 that Lowry committed himself "to the kids of the inner city to show their talents to the world, or at least, to the city."

For its first 10 years, the fledgling Network for Young Artists was housed at the landmark KEDA building on South Flores Street. Lowry still was teaching and coaching and organizing music lessons on Mondays and Tuesdays, plus staging music shows "every weekend somewhere."

Lowry retired from teaching in 2009. These days, his incubator-styled organization is sponsored by the city's Department for Culture &amp; Creative Development and is assisting 300 young people annually. It has awarded 21 college scholarships.

"They've really helped us out. Without Felix Padron and the board buying in to what we do, we wouldn't be in existence," Lowry said.

Gibson Guitar Corp. also supports the network. But that doesn't foot the whole costs.

On Friday, Lowry is producing a fundraising record release concert at Club Rio for a touring band called Making Movies. The bill includes S.A. groups Pop Pistol and Canstante. Proceeds will be used for various programs. For more information, call (210) 226-5611; online at www.nya.us.

Lowry says he's perhaps proudest of forming lasting relationships with his students, most of whom pursue careers other than music.

"I get a sense of pride that I'm doing something positive for humanity," he said. "I know I'm doing something good. What I've learned is: Don't ever give up on kids because they will shock you."